by Jenise » Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:01 pm
On Sunday we had a glass each of NV Casal Garcia vinho verde 'rojo', which is essentially a rose by color. I mentioned having had it already in this thread, but the contents of this bottle were a darker, fresher reddish color vs. the other's paler, coppery tone, and overall a fresher, livelier wine. Very good, though the inconsistency is a concern: makes me wonder if this is made/bottled by a cooperative such that the results from one batch to the next can vary widely. Anyway, we liked it quite a bit and it paired nicely with scallops in a dried tomato-cream sauce.
Later we decided to try another rose, a malbec based wine: 2009 Georges Vigoroux 'Pigmentum', Cahors. Especially in comparison to the vinho verde, we found this wine simple and sweet, almost candied. Neither of us cared for it so it went back in the fridge. Then last night we poured another glass: wow, what a different wine it turned into. That sweet outer layer is gone and what's there now is the most satisfyingly complex rose we've had yet this summer. Strawberry, cranberry, rhubarb, cinnamon bark and something a little wild like sage are packed into a wine that's taut with good acidity and some satisfying tannic structure. Quite a metamorphosis, from childlike to confident adult literally overnight. Outstanding.
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov